Immune Response News and Research

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Interval between doses of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine can be safely extended to 3 months, suggests study

A 3-month interval between doses of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine results in higher vaccine efficacy than a 6-week interval, with the first dose offering 76% protection in the 3 months between doses.

20 Feb 2021

Study: Longevity gene protects brain stem cells from the harmful effects of stress

A gene linked to unusually long lifespans in humans protects brain stem cells from the harmful effects of stress, according to a new study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.

20 Feb 2021

Transforming immune killer T-cells into 'super soldiers' to fight against cancer

Creating "super soldiers" of specific white blood cells to boost an anti-tumour response has been shown in a series of elegant experiments by Princess Margaret researchers.

20 Feb 2021

Live attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate shows protective efficacy in vivo

A new preprint on the bioRxiv* server describes the development of a live attenuated vaccine candidate to counter the growing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.

19 Feb 2021

Chicken-derived antibody shows potent neutralizing capacity against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

Researchers report on a Chicken-derived antibody against SARS-CoV-2, offering preliminary data on a potential therapeutic for COVID-19 warranting further research.

19 Feb 2021

COVID-19 and lung cancer have a common pathway, say researchers

A new preprint on the bioRxiv* server describes the common features COVID-19 shares with lung cancer.

19 Feb 2021

How does the SARS-CoV-2 E484K mutation increase viral fitness?

How do mutations benefit SARS-CoV-2? To explore this, a team of researchers from China took a closer look at the physical interactions that occur between the proteins after viral mutation.

19 Feb 2021

Study: First influenza infection does not make people immune to future flu viruses

A child's first influenza infection shapes their immunity to future airborne flu viruses - including emerging pandemic strains.

19 Feb 2021

Levels of IgG antibodies may influence COVID-19 outcomes

COVID-19, the source of the current pandemic, may be caused by a single virus, but it has a variety of presentations that make treatment difficult. Children, for example, almost exclusively experience mild or asymptomatic COVID-19, while adults can develop severe or even fatal COVID-19.

19 Feb 2021

Trispecific antibody targets cancer cells, natural killer cells

Several treatments for cancer have been devised by science, but unfortunately none of them are completely efficient or foolproof.

19 Feb 2021

Immune response to SARS-CoV-2 may be limited by a set of genes

Neutralizing antibodies develop within two weeks of a SARS-CoV-2 infection, but their durability and intensity can vary by individual, prompting concerns about the prospects of long-lasting immunity and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.

18 Feb 2021

Could measles virus vectors be used for a new COVID-19 vaccine?

A research team at the Institut Pasteur in France describes the successful development of such a vaccine utilizing a measles virus vector.

18 Feb 2021

Early immunosuppressive biomarkers could predict bone regeneration after trauma

An abnormal suppression of the immune system linked to the onset of numerous diseases has been associated with poor functional regeneration of traumatic bone injuries.

18 Feb 2021

SARS-CoV-2 D614G mutation associated with lower antibody binding

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about an international effort to uncover the biology of its causative agent, SARS-CoV-2, and to develop effective and safe antivirals to contain and treat the infection. A new study by a team of researchers in France and Sweden discusses one such study, exploring the relative immunogenicity of the three main structural proteins of the virus.

18 Feb 2021

Are antibody cocktails the key to COVID-19 treatment?

News-Medical speaks to Dr. Natalia Freund about her latest research into COVID-19, and how most people are capable of producing neutralizing antibodies against the virus.

18 Feb 2021

3D microscopy sheds light on the body’s immune response to obesity

Researchers who focus on fat know that some adipose tissue is more prone to inflammation-related comorbidities than others, but the reasons why are not well understood.

18 Feb 2021

New study sheds light on potential pathophysiological mechanism underlying delirium

Delirium, a common syndrome among older adults, particularly in those who have recently undergone surgery, critically ill patients in the ICU, and in older patients with multiple health issues, is a form of acute confusion that is characterized by poor attention, disorientation, impaired memory, delusions, and abrupt changes in mood and behavior.

17 Feb 2021

Convalescent plasma shows CD8+ T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 variants

Researchers in the United States have conducted a study suggesting that individuals who have recovered from or been vaccinated against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) should maintain effective CD8+ T-cell responses against the major variants that have recently emerged.

17 Feb 2021

Innate immune system prevents severe COVID-19 in children

Children are protected from severe COVID-19 because their innate immune system is quick to attack the virus, a new study has found.

17 Feb 2021

Probiotics may be beneficial in COVID-19 treatment

A new study explores the role of common probiotics in managing the disease, which could prove to be of great value, given the emergence of new variants and the broad spectrum of clinical disease in COVID-19.

17 Feb 2021